A blog on Singapore defence and the SAF that goes Above & Beyond The Obvious -The views expressed on this blog are my personal views and/or opinion and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinion of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD). Follow us on Twitter @SenangDiri

Saturday, March 23, 2013

United States Navy Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom due to commence deployment to Southeast Asia

The United States Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), USS Freedom (LCS-1), seen here in her new warpaint. The four-colour splinter camouflage harks back to camouflage measure schemes (MS) seen on US Navy combatants during the Second World War.

Now in Guam, Freedom is due to cast off for the final leg of her journey from San Diego to Singapore soon.

Her deployment to Southeast Asian waters, said to stretch about eight months, will be anchored on sorties staged from Singapore.

33 comments:

Anonymous
said...

According to Wikipedia, LCS can be "reconfigured for various roles by changing mission modules... including Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), mine hunter (MCM), surface warfare (SUW), and special warfare missions by 2014-2016.""Module changes were envisioned to allow a single LCS to change roles in a matter of hours at any commercial port."I assume CNB can potentially be the LCS's "dressing room," some in one module and leave as another module.

AND THEN our ASEAN friends will complain as PLA-N aircraft carrier and warships are operating out of CNB to do show of force at Spratly.

AND THEN PRC wil complain that American stealth warships are operating out of CNB to shadow/harrass PLA-N warships.

AND THEN USA will complain that PLA-N warships are operating out of CNB to do show of force at their allies disputed terrtorities, plus joint air exercise [using American made F16s and F15s] with PLA-N Naval aircrafts.

Move on with the times. This Sg vs My crap is really an outdated scenario peddled by leaders from both countries from a different generation and based on different set of circumstances. At best it is a good navel gazing exercise. In reality a complete waste of time considering the real threat for both countries lies elsewhere.

I think greater danger is US Navy has a skirmish with PLA Navy in S. China Sea, and the younger generation PLAN brass (who have not fought Americans in Korean war) decide to attack Changi Naval Base instead of US naval bases in Guam and Okinawa (which are better protected).

the scenario you described is only possible if the m'sian navy allows, with challening, china navy ships, which have to pass near m'sia long coastline facing the south china sea to get anywhere near S'pore. (not unless you're suggesting that the m'sian and china navies are now on very friendly terms).

Later NEWS: A PLA Navy FFG "Open Fire" at a vietnamese "Fishing Boat" in South China Sea.

This is what Singapore should be more closely watched and pay more attention too. NOT just Malaysia.

And this will NOT be the very last time that a PLA Navy "Fired Live Rounds" at a "NON-Military" Ship. We will be hearing more and more of this kind of case coming out and PLA will not give a shit about anyone here including us.

Beside of PLA, 2 more country that we should pay more attention too is Indonesia. They are building up their Armed force and they having a plain to equip up to 300+ Leo2 with another 100~200+ MBT which their going to build together with the help from Germany. Their also going to build more then 300+ IFV(wheel) and 300+ IFV(track).

For now their have equipped 4 LPD and also builded and equipped wit a New Class of LST. New FFG, 4 New Fast Missle Craft(16~24). getting and building New Sub(3) with the help from south Korea. Together wit 2 just Upgraded Sub Type-206. A New oil Tanker..ect.

Philippine is the other country we should watch out. Don't laugh 1st, Cos the past history did happened buring 70's ~ 80's, when their Fighters intruded East malaysia air space. So when their Air Force "Really Get" to have New Fighter and Navy getting New FFG we will also be seeing them going around provoking esp East Malaysia "Sabah" and South China sea due to their so cal "pinoy pride".

Another BIG NEWS: four PLA Navy ship flotilla headed by the a landing ship Jing-Gang-Shan(LPD)with others few PLA Navy(FFG) visited James Shoal -

Some 80km from "Malaysia"!!! About100km from Natuna "Indonesia" And less than 200km from "Brunei" !!! and 1,800 kilometres from the mainland coast !! Just 80Km from Malaysia territorial !! that is way too close to another Country. This is really getting out of hand.

If this happen to Russia, U.S, Japan, South Korea or any other EU country, Their will have sended out their DDG, FFG, AEWC, Fighters, MPA armed with live rounds to intercept all this during the 80's and even untill now their still do the so. Yet, all this 3 Country did NOTHING and till now NOT even a single words coming out either from Malaysia non Indonesia !!

While this two so cal BIG Country did acted differently when faced with Singapore. Is this the act of coward or what !!

Singapore does not have any territorial claims. This is for the claimants to sort out. If the US wishes to use Singapore as a base for presence patrols, Singapore will tell them to get out. A single LCS is not sufficient for this substantial task.

Singapore will defer to China. Half their citizens are already here extracting a good deal from us. The government thinks its so smart. They too will pay the price when they realize that these huge numbers of PRC PRs and NCs reduce the range of political options available to them.

Yes why not everyone just relax...just like during WWII when the Old Germany told Soviet they will not attack them and those who stand Natural ya. And lucky, Soviet did Not buy that. Beside of WWII, there are other few big and small war that were told the same thing.

So yes, those who think this is just a few country sea/rock/island territorial claims and singapore can just relax and carryon drink coffee, thinking there is nothning going to happen to us ya.....sweet Dreamssssss.

Ooo ya since there are more then ONE Millions PRC here with another ONE Million +++ of other foreigners here. Guess we are very very save.

Dont worry about spy and other things, cos we are all save here. There is nothing here to be worry. NO spy, Nothing..Dream On.

Anything happen in SCS would and will impact Singapore as well. Singapore will not be left out even if we dont want to get involved. As for migrated? dont think this well help. And yes, i too agreed China is somehow trying hard to instigates someone in Asia to fired the first shoot.

Last year china managed to 'buy' off cambodia as ASEAN chair. This year, Brunei is taking the chair and the PLA-N came within 200nm of Brunei's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This action showed two things. China is sending a warning to Brunei to better tow the line in China's favour. Second, China send the message to hell with the UN convention on the law of the seas and the so called global commons. They don't recognise your 200nm EEZ, only the barrel of their guns talk the loudest.

At this juncture, we have to remain calm but our defensive posture keep a watchful alert. So long their song and dance remain just that, we keep the peace. In time to come the world will see China and the communist party for what they really are. There is a chinese saying, paper cannot keep wrapped fire.

Do you think the Apache pilots of Redhawk 69 handled the inflight emergency well?

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About Me

Former Defence Correspondent at The Straits Times, a Singaporean English language broadsheet newspaper. ACCORD member. Working on a writing project before moving to staff comms.
KEMENTAH is short for Kementerian Pertahanan, the Malay term for Ministry of Defence. Senang Diri is a Malay footdrill command which means "stand at ease".
This blog is about defence information management, especially defence media relations and strategic media relations. It examines Singapore defence and security matters and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), which I'm very passionate about. I developed a life-long interest in the SAF the moment I attended my first SAF Display at Changi as a kid in the 1970s.
Thankfully, I've made more friends than enemies while researching the SAF. : )
Please visit my Youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ChineseJunk1.
MA in Security Studies, University of Hull (1996) under Prof Colin Gray, Dr Tim Huxley and Dr Eric Grove. US State Dept National Security & Counter Terrorism Program (2004)
Reported on:
* Flying Eagle: Taiwan 9/21 quake relief
* Blue Heron I: Timor Leste
* Blue Orchid I: Persian Gulf
* Flying Eagle: Meulaboh, Indonesia